Sinn Fein's candidiate for Dublin in the EU elections, Seán Crowe has
described the proposed cuts at the new Tallaght `flagship' hospital
``as scandalous''. Speaking after a meeting with the Tallaght Hospital
Action Group and local representatives, he said that `` People were
playing not only politics with the hospital, but with patients
lives.'' The attempts he claimed to cut existing services, were in
direct contravention of the Charter of the three merged hospitals
that make up Tallaght. Crowe also urged the Action Group to
investigate the possibility of legal action being taken against the
Minister and the Department of Health.

Mr Crowe said:

``The proposed cutbacks in Tallaght Hospital in paediatric surgery ,
paediatric haematology and the children's Accident and Emergency,
has left this community seething with anger.The cuts being
experienced in Tallaght and this latest proposal to undermine and
eventually wind down the children's and adolescent services , is
killing the morale of staff and patients.The quarter of a million
people living in the catchment area of this hospital, have a right
to know why this modern hospital is being run down.

``Why are hospitals strapped for cash when we have had a bumper
windfall in tax, the highest ever in the history of this state. Why
are people sleeping on trolleys in our major hospitals when wards are
closing ? How would Brian Cowan feel if it was a member of his family
that was ill and needed urgent treatment ? The Minister for Health
needs to give the people of Tallaght some answers.'' ENDS